Support the Museum

For more than a quarter of a century, generous gifts to the Tennessee State Museum Foundation have been used to support the programs and mission of the State Museum. Contributions help the museum preserve our state’s history while documenting its diverse cultural heritage. This includes

Artifact Acquisition - used to purchase artifacts when sufficient funds are not available through the state budget. Examples include the earliest known photograph of Nashville in 1853, an Ansel Adams photograph of the Smoky Mountains taken in the 1930s, items from the television production of Alex Haley’s book Roots, paintings created in the 1940s by African American brothers Beauford and Joseph Delaney of Knoxville, as well as a painting by Tennessee artist Willie Betty Newman exhibited at the Salon de Paris in 1891.

Flag Conservation - used to conserve and protect flags in the museum’s collection, including preserving Civil War battle flags through conservation treatment.

Sheila Greene Civil War Endowment - funds are placed in the endowment with the accrued proceeds used to purchase or conserve Civil War-related artifacts.

General Support for the nuts and bolts operational activities of the foundation–bookkeepers, phone service, employees, printing, office supplies, and marketing programs.

New Museum Planning - the State Museum is currently planning for a new facility on the Bicentennial Mall. These funds will be used to cover planning costs not funded under the state budget.

None of these items could have happened without the support of the foundation. You can become part of this continuing effort today by making a tax-deductible gift to the foundation. Just complete our online donation form, choose one of the categories below, and your gift will be specifically reserved for expenditures from that fund and only spent for those items. Gifts may also be made in the name of others. Please choose either the option for “In the memory of” or “In honor of” gift.